A longitudinal study of risk and protective factors for symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic

Autor(en)

Annett Lotzin, Katharina Stahlmann, Elena Acquarini, Dean Ajdukovic, Marina Ajdukovic, Xenia Anastassiou-Hadjicharalambous, Vittoria Ardino, Kristina Bondjers, Maria Bragesjö, Maria Böttche, Małgorzata Dragan, Margarida Figueiredo-Braga, Odeta Gelezelyte, Piotr Grajewski, Jana Darejan Javakhishvili, Evaldas Kazlauskas, Lonneke Lenferink, Chrysanthi Lioupi, Brigitte Lueger-Schuster, Trudy Mooren, Luisa Sales, Lela Tsiskarishvili, Irina Zrnic Novakovic, Ingo Schäfer

Abstrakt

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic caused multiple stressors that may lead to symptoms of adjustment disorder. Objective: We longitudinally examined relationships between risk and protective factors, pandemic-related stressors and symptoms of adjustment disorder during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as whether these relationships differed by the time of assessment. Method: The European Society for Traumatic Stress Studies (ESTSS) ADJUST Study included N = 15,169 participants aged 18 years and above. Participants from 11 European countries were recruited and screened three times at 6-month intervals from June 2020 to January 2022. Associations between risk and protective factors (e.g. gender), stressors (e.g. fear of infection), and symptoms of adjustment disorder (AjD, ADNM-8) and their interaction with time of assessment were examined using mixed linear regression. Results: The following predictors were significantly associated with higher AjD symptom levels: female or diverse gender; older age; pandemic-related news consumption >30 min a day; a current or previous mental health disorder; trauma exposure before or during the pandemic; a good, satisfactory or poor health status (vs. very good); burden related to governmental crisis management and communication; fear of infection; restricted social contact; work-related problems; restricted activity; and difficult housing conditions. The following predictors were associated with lower AjD levels: self-employment or retirement; working in healthcare; and face-to-face contact ≥ once a week with loved ones or friends. The effects of the following predictors on AjD symptoms differed by the time of assessment in the course of the pandemic: a current or previous mental disorder; burden related to governmental crisis management; income reduction; and a current trauma exposure. Conclusions: We identified risk factors and stressors predicting AjD symptom levels at different stages of the pandemic. For some predictors, the effects on mental health may change at different stages of a pandemic.

Organisation(en)

Institut für Klinische und Gesundheitspsychologie

Externe Organisation(en)

Universitätsklinikum Hamburg-Eppendorf, Medical School Hamburg, Università degli Studi di Urbino "Carlo Bo", University of Zagreb, University of Nicosia, Uppsala University, Norwegian Centre for Violence and Traumatic Stress Studies, Karolinska Institute, Freie Universität Berlin (FU), University of Warsaw, Universidade do Porto, Universidade de Coimbra, Vilnius University (VU), Ilia State University, University of Twente, Utrecht University, Centro de Saúde Militar de Coimbra

Journal

European Journal of Psychotraumatology

Band

15

ISSN

2000-8066

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2024.2318944

Publikationsdatum

04-2024

Peer-reviewed

Ja

ÖFOS 2012

501010 Klinische Psychologie

Schlagwörter

ASJC Scopus Sachgebiete

Psychiatry and Mental health

Link zum Portal

https://ucrisportal.univie.ac.at/de/publications/08c52e7e-c9b5-47ec-8781-b6620cc4c244